{"id":66,"date":"2013-05-31T20:56:59","date_gmt":"2013-05-31T11:56:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/?p=66"},"modified":"2016-08-06T13:58:14","modified_gmt":"2016-08-06T04:58:14","slug":"part006_edit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/part006_edit\/","title":{"rendered":"\u516d Part 06 (Bath)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"07_embrace_fix\"
\n<\/a>Like all monks, the tengu of the mountain temple valued cleanliness. The grounds had been equipped with a communal bath, its walls and floors lined with pale cedar planks. Because the mountain lacked a natural hot spring, a fair amount of firewood was required to keep up with their bathing habits. Steam filled the warm room, contrasting the frozen, moonlit landscape surrounding the building. Filling a shallow bucket, Shichi poured the water over his head, letting it rinse away all evidence of the day\u2019s labors. Shou was already submerged up to his throat, resting his head back on the edge of the large tub.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s too bad the village doesn\u2019t have a bath,\u201d Shou said, his voice lazy with the heat of the room. \u201cMaybe they enjoy being filthy.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re not filthy,\u201d Shichi said, filling the bucket once more. \u201cOnly larger towns have public baths.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you always defending humans?\u201d Shou said, turning to fold his arms on the ledge. His voice had risen, but their conversation remained more or less ignored by the other soaking monks.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause you should know better than to be judgmental,\u201d Shichi said. \u201cYou don\u2019t know what their lives are like.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I know they aren\u2019t as clean as we are. And they . . . what is it, when the water comes out of their skin?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s sweat,\u201d he said. \u201cIt helps them cool down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, whatever it is, I bet it smells.\u201d Shou waved his hand in front of his nostrils. \u201cSince when are you an expert on humans, anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s called reading; you should give it a try.\u201d Shichi hoped Shou wouldn\u2019t actually search the temple for a book about humans\u2014he certainly wouldn\u2019t find one. He finished rinsing himself, entering the scalding water with a slight cringe. After a moment his body grew accustomed to the heat and he sank down into it with a sigh. His relaxation, however, was interrupted by his companion\u2019s gawking stare.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Shichi asked, looking back at the other monk with a raised brow.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour claws. You cut them.\u201d Shou\u2019s eyes were locked on the hand Shichi had draped over the ledge.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d Shichi said, looking down at his fingers. \u201cWell, it\u2019s easier to prepare herbs this way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it? It looks a little odd, if you ask me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re the one who can\u2019t take his eyes off of me in a bathhouse.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that, Shou glanced away, straightening his posture in an attempt to dignify himself. Though he was generally nosy, he hadn\u2019t been the first one to notice Shichi\u2019s hands. Sagiri had mentioned it immediately, only half-buying his explanation. Shichi mentally scolded himself. He had done rather well in keeping up his diligence and focus, but was finding it difficult to hide the physical evidence of his relationship.<\/p>\n

From that day on, he kept his hands tucked neatly into his sleeves. As the new year came and went, he found another challenge approaching. Kana\u2019s birthday was in winter, and monks were most certainly not famous for extravagant gift giving. Even in receiving they had little experience, only able to accept donations of food or utilitarian goods. It had taken a long time for him to grow accustomed to Kana\u2019s occasional presents, and he was at a loss on how to return her gestures. It was only after one night of listening to her tell a particularly long story that he thought of a proper gift, but he would need help.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, Shichi, this is everything you asked for,\u201d Sanae said, handing him a set wrapped in cloth. \u201cBut are you certain you need these? I\u2019m surprised you\u2019ve found time for calligraphy with all the work you have.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d Shichi accepted the package with a bow. \u201cI\u2019ll manage, don\u2019t worry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd don\u2019t forget your half of the bargain\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour kitchen duties for two months,\u201d he said with a nod. \u201cAnd a bag of sencha?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe good stuff,\u201d she said. \u201cCeremony quality.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, I could cut it down to one month if you\u2019d like a lower grade of brush,\u201d she said, clearly hesitant to pass over high quality tools to a beginner.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ll be in good hands, I assure you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure you don\u2019t want a used set?\u201d she asked, even as he was leaving the<\/p>\n

room.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a newer ink stick, if you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Sanae,\u201d Shichi said as he disappeared down the hallway. Sanae folded her arms as she watched him go, murmuring under her breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re lucky you make good tea.\u201d<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

In the following days he grew to understand why Kana was so fond of gift-giving. The anticipation of making her happy was energizing. By the time her visiting day arrived, he felt a rather odd excitement that he hadn\u2019t experienced since childhood.<\/p>\n

Though the ground was covered with snow, the air was mild. The two sat together on the outer porch, watching birds huddled in the bare trees above.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wonder if birds realize how lucky they are\u2014that they can fly wherever they like, whenever they want,\u201d Kana rested her chin on her palm. \u201cSometimes I wish we could run off together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know I would, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you belong at the temple,\u201d Kana said. She\u2019d heard that reply before. \u201cI understand. But it\u2019s nice to daydream, once in a while.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is.\u201d Shichi glanced sideways at her as she gazed up at the trees. \u201cAh, Kana. I know your hatch\u2014 er, birthday isn\u2019t until tomorrow, but . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou remembered?\u201d she asked, turning to look at him in surprise.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, of course.\u201d He removed the cloth package from a slim crate. \u201cI thought, since you\u2019re always telling me stories, that you might enjoy writing.\u201d<\/p>\n

She accepted the parcel with both hands, looking down at it for a moment before untying the cloth. Inside was a carved wooden box containing an inkstone, stick, and brush. There was also a set of mulberry paper tucked neatly against the bottom.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh,\u201d Kana said as her eyes widened in elation. \u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to write. But my husband said it would be a waste of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi only tilted his head, wondering how writing could be considered so.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s wonderful,\u201d she said, leaning forward to pull him into her arms. \u201cThank<\/p>\n

you.\u201d<\/p>\n

He happily accepted her embrace, glad that his gift could be of use to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI might make mistakes,\u201d she said, giving him an uneasy smile. \u201cMaybe I shouldn\u2019t show you my work at first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about mistakes. All you need to do is clear your mind. The letters will come to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSpoken like a true monk,\u201d she said, smiling as she touched his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery few things I do with you are appropriate for a \u2018true\u2019 monk,\u201d he muttered in response.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh? What sorts of things are those?\u201d she asked, her eyes narrowing. He quickly saw where her thoughts were going and held her firmly by the arms to make a point.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes I think you live to embarrass me,\u201d he said, glad that his skin couldn\u2019t blush like a human\u2019s. \u201cHonestly, you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

His lecture was interrupted by a sound\u2014it was a crisp, metallic noise, one that pierced the previously quiet forest. They both turned sideways toward the source and their hearts stopped simultaneously at what they saw. It was a sword, drawn cleanly from its sheath and presented in the two-handed grasp of a man. He was human, but the ire in his eyes suggested otherwise.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnhand her,\u201d was all he said. The twist of revulsion in the man’s features was familiar to Shichi. He had seen it before, when he had first met Kana. It was the face of a human looking at a monster.<\/p>\n

After his mentor had discovered the hair on his clothing, Shichi had taken special care to ensure that it would not happen again. Any evidence of human contact was picked clean\u2014even her scent had been masked with incense. It hadn\u2019t crossed his mind, however, that Kana might not take the same precautions. Shichi had been so distracted with Sagiri\u2019s suspicions that he hadn\u2019t considered Kana\u2019s husband at all.<\/p>\n

The samurai had already been wary of her long outings, and it had only taken a single black feather to turn his concerns into outrage. Then, it was simply a matter of choosing a day to follow her up the mountain\u2014the day before her birthday.<\/p>\n

\u201cMasaru<\/em>,\u201d Kana said, finally able to speak. It was the first time Shichi had heard the samurai\u2019s name.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will not repeat myself,\u201d the man said, positioning himself to attack.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t,\u201d she said, spreading her arms defensively as she stepped between the two. \u201cPlease don\u2019t hurt him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s cursed you, Kana. Your mind isn\u2019t clear. Step aside.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will not,\u201d she said, her heels pressing firmly into the snow. \u201cMy mind is clear\u2014it\u2019s always been clear. This was my choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

This was apparently not what he wanted to hear, and his grip on the blade\u2019s handle tightened.<\/p>\n

\u201cStep aside!\u201d<\/p>\n

Kana didn\u2019t respond, only holding her position with a glare. There was a flurry of movement as Masaru stepped forward, taking her by the wrist and wrenching her body sideways. She stumbled down to the snow, and it was only the sight of her pain that finally snapped Shichi out of his stupor.<\/p>\n

\u201cKana!\u201d he called, moving toward her without thinking. He had only gone two steps before the blade did its work, glinting as it cut through the air and across the monk\u2019s body. Spots of red dotted the snow, staining the white ground as he collapsed. He was almost certain he could hear Kana\u2019s voice but couldn\u2019t make out the words. The last thing he saw was her geta<\/em>, the wooden shoes kicking up snow as she was dragged off\u2014then, there was only black.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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